THE British canal system is undergoing a 21st century renaissance – and the restoration of the Droitwich Canal is living proof.

Yesterday saw a boat enter the 250-year-old barge canal for the first time in 80 years. It was a symbolic act that meant the £12 million restoration of the canal in Droitwich is close to completion.

The British canal system was a feat of engineering and the base upon which the country’s industrial expansion was built.

The pace of the Industrial Revolution was determined by the expansion of navigable man-made waterways, linking towns and cities at a time when roads were unsuitable for the transport of raw and manufactured materials.

Time was called on the canals and road and rail networks advanced and many waterways became neglected and disused.

Droitwich was just one of many abandoned waterways.

Thankfully, the growth of the leisure industry has sparked a renewed interest in canals as increasing numbers of people opt for narrowboat holidays. The result has been restoration projects across the country with many miles of canals navigable again.

The completion of the Droitwich regeneration next year will see the vision of a 21-mile cruising ring in the heart of Worcestershire become a reality. About £3 million a year from tourists and almost 200 new jobs are predicted within five years of the opening.

It is good news and a tribute to the hard work of many people, particularly volunteers, over the last few decades.